Chicago police officer who killed 2 cleared in bar fight

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago police officer who was the subject of a lawsuit in the fatal shooting of a teenager and a grandmother has been acquitted of beating two men in a bar fight.

Cook County Circuit Judge Daniel Gallagher on Tuesday cleared Officer Robert Rialmo of two counts of misdemeanor battery resulting from the fight that occurred in December.

Prosecutors said Rialmo made an unprovoked attack against the two men, one of whom was seeking his jacket at closing time.

Rialmo’s lawyer argued the officer was defending himself from “very intoxicated” aggressors when he punched two men in the face. Rialmo testified Tuesday he was acting in self defense.

A trial over lawsuits stemming from Rialmo’s 2015 fatal shooting of 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier ended last month. Jurors awarded LeGrier’s family just over $1 million but contradicted their verdict, which the judge negated. Bystander 55-year-old Bettie Jones was also killed.